Extension grate apparatus



Apr. -17, 1923."

G. W. RUGGLES EXTENSION GRATE APPARATUS fid Nov. 26, 1920 Patented Apr. 117, 1923.

FATE DFFIE.

GILBERT WAYNE-RUGGLES, 0F YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.

EXTENSION GRATE APPARATUS.

Application filed November 26, 1920. Serial No. 426,342.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, .GILBERT WAYNE Rueenns, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Youngstown, county of Mahoning, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Extension Grate Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it 7 from other inventions.

My invention relates to an extension grate apparatus and more particularly to the construction of the connecting and driving members therefor.

Heretofore, difliculty has been experienced in disconnecting and removing a grate for cleaning out coal and ash from the grate bearers and for repairing such grate bearers and the grate structure. Much time and labor has been thus consumed and the operation of the boiler and its associated mechanism has been greatly interfered with.

Also, where the parts are not readily re-' movable the air space of such apparatus is permitted to become filled with coal or ash, greatly affecting the proper combustion of the fuel and the efiicient working of the apparatus.

The object of my invention is to obviate the disadvantages mentioned and to provide an improved means of connecting and driving the extension grate of an underfeed stoker type of furnace. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claim s. V

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

The single figure of the drawing is a longitudinal sectional elevation showing my improvement applied to a grate structure of v member 1, providing a chamber 2 of greater.

depth at its rearward portion to accomodate the operating levers for reciprocating the grate and ashallow chamber 3 forwardly thereof to serve as a guide-way for the operating member or link 4 of the slide or extension section 5 of the grate structure. A single central link may be employed or a plurality of spaced links as "desiredw The grate proper is supported upon a frame 6 comprising a casting havin a base section provided with extensions for slidingly engaging uide-ways upon the grate bearer lateral wa ls 8, and an inter mediate supporting web 9. The grate is made up of a series, or may comprise a pluralityof such series of superposed plates 10 presenting, when assembled in place, the effect of a series of shallow steps. plates are removably secured to' the supporting frame which has suitably placed securing lugs 11 thereon. At the top of the series of lates is provided a removable nose 12 bolte to the furnace frame 21 and replaceable in the event of its being damaged by heat. The plates are supported so as to leave openings 13 between the lower end of each and the top of the one below, through which an air blast may be passed by the draft mechanism of the furnace. Attached to the outer vertical wall of the frame is an inwardly extendingsupporting arm 14, which provides a bearing for a transverse shaft 15 to which is attached a rocker arm 16 for the shaft and a shorter arm 17 with a pivot connection at its lower end for'attachment to the grate operating link 4. The inner end of this link is provided with an enlargement 18 of circular cross-section in the upper face of which is formed a slot 19 of greater width at its bottom than at the surface. The frame member of the extension gratehas secured to the outer portion of its under side, by means of bolts, an angle iron 20, one flange portion of which is adapted to enter the slot in the link member. Through the oscillation of the shaft, 1t will be noted, the link member w1ll be reciprocated and will carry with it the ex-' following claims or the equivalent of such grate bars serves of my invention of the one explained, change being made sufficiently to allow the angle iron 20 to be raised out of the slot 19, thus allowing the frame member to be moved out away from its support. To return the grate frame member to its place, it is merely forced back into position and 'then lifted sufiiciently to allow the angle iron to be placed in engagement with the slot. In former types of extension grates the operating link was connected to the grate-frame by means of a pin or other fastening which was relatively inaccessible and hard to remove or connect. The weight of the frame with its associated to hold it upon the grate bearer rfiember, and the'provision of the chamber 3 as a guideway prevents accidental disengagement of the link and angle iron' and allows the normal operation of the device in the usual manner. Should it at any time become desirable to disassemble the parts, it may thus be easily accomplished, inasmuch as the angle member will freely lift out of the slot in the operating link.

In this way, access may be quickly had to. the interior of the grate or grate ;bearer member and the air space may be prevented from being filled with coal or ash and neces- Sa-Iy repairs may be accomplished with a H minimum loss of time and expenditure of labor.

Other modes of applying .the principle may be employed instead as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:-

1. In a mechanical stoker, the combination,

of an extension grate, a. member adapted to slidably support same, a reciprocable link, said grate being tiltable relatively to said member, and operating connections between said grate and link adapted to be disengaged upon such tilting of the grate.

2. In a mechanical stoker, the combination of an extension grate, a member adapted to slidably support said rate, a reciprocable link having an upward y openin slot and a tiltable relativel to said supporting member in order to isengage said element from such. slot and thereby permit removal of said grate.

3. In a mechanical stoker, the combination of an extension grate, a member adapted to slidably support said grate, a reciprocable link having an upwardly opening slot, such slot being of greater width at its lower portion, and a flange depending from said grate and engaging with such slot, said grate being tiltable relatively to said supporting member in order to disengage said flange from such slot and thereby permit removal of said grate.

4. In a mechanical stoker, the combination of an extension grate, a member adapted to slidably support said grate, a link reciprocably resting on said support and having an upwardly opening slot, guide means for said link, and a transverse element secured to said grate and engaging with such slot, said grate being tiltable relatively to said supporting member in order to disengage said element from such slot and thereby permit removal of said grate.

5. In a mechanical stoker, the combination of an extension grate, a link having a slot in one end portion thereof, an angle plate secured to said grate and having one edge :portion in said slot, a slideway supporting said end portion of the link so as to maintain an operative engagement between the same and said edge portion of the angle plate, and means for reciprocating the link.

6. In a mechanical stoker, the combination of an extension grate, a member adapted to slidably support said grate, a link reciprocably resting on said support and having an upwardly opening slot, guide means for said link, a transverse element secured to said grate and engaging with such slot, said grate being tiltable relatively to said supporting member in order to disengage said element from such slot and thereby permit removal of said grate, a rock-shaft, and a crank-arm on said shaft connected with said link in order to reciprocate same.

Signed by me, this 22nd day of November,

transverse element secured to sai grate and 1920 engaging with such slot, said grate being GILB-ERT WAYNE RUGGLES. 

